Electric priming-cock.



G. T. lVlcMlLLAN.

ELECTRIC PRIMING COCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.14.1918.

Patented Mar. 18,1919.

Ca v I 7 I Gmwup 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE '1. MOMILLAN, OF BROOKING S, SOUTH DAKOTA.

ELECTRIC PRIMING-COGK' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed March 14, 1918. Serial No. 222,390.

and which is adapted to be filled with a charge of gasolene to be heated by a current from the said battery before being admitted to the engine cylinders so that the heated charge of gasolene will quickly volatilize to permit the ready starting of the engine in cold weather.

The invention has as a further object to provide a priming cock of the character set forth which may be connected to the intake manifold of the engine so that a heated charge of gasolene may be admitted directly to the said manifold to be distributed to all of the cylinders of the engine.

The invention has as a still further object to provide a priming cock employing a bowl for receiving a charge of gasolene to be heated and wherein a heating wire or element will be mounted upon the said bowl in position to be immersed by the charge of gasolene within the bowl for heating the said charge.

And the invention has as a still further switch will be mounted upon the bowl of the device and will be so disposed that the said switch may be easily manually closed for closing a circuit through the heating element of the cock.

Other and incidental objects will-appear as the description proceeds. In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation showing my improved priming cock applied to a conventional type of motor vehicle eng a Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the device more in detail and illustrating the disposition of the switch of the cock,

(Fig. 3 is a top plan view particularly illustrating the valve cap of the bowlof the device, and A Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line H of 'Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In carrying out the invention, my im- 7 proved priming cock is formed with a body 10 extended upon its upper side to provide a cyllndrlcal cup 11. Extending from the lower side of the body is a stem 12 and rotatably fitted through. the body is a valve 13 adapted to control communication between. the cup and stem. Mounted upon the cup is a cylindrical bowl 14. This bowl is formed of insulating material and, at its lower end, is snugly fitted over the cup, as particularly shown in Fig. 2, to provide a tight joint therebetween. The bowl is thus supported to extend upwardly'above the cup and normally closing said bowl at its upperend is a valve cap therefor. This valve cap includes a disk 15 of a diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the bowl and a second disk 16 somewhat larger than the disk 15 and rotatably connected thereto by a suitable pivot ,pin. These disks are preferably formed of the same material as the bowl and the disk 15is frictionally engaged within the upper end of the bowl and is thus held against rotation with respect thereto for supporting the disk 16 to overhang the upper edge of the bowl, The disk 15 is, as particularly shown in Fig. 3, provided with spaced openings 17 and the disk 16 is provided with similar spaced openings 18 adapted to register with the openings 17 for establishing communication between the interior of the bowl and the atmosphere.

However, as will be readily understood, the disk 16 may be. rotated upon the disk 15 for cutting off such communication.

Fitted through the wall of the bowl from the interior thereof are oppositely disposed radial terminals'19 and 20 respectively arranged adjacent the upper end of the bowl. These terminals are, at their inner extremities, provided with heads21 to engage the inner face of the bowl and screw threaded upon the outer ends of the said terminals are clamping nuts 22 adjustable to engage the outer face of the bowl for securing the said terminals in position. At their extremities the terminals are equipped with binding nection it is to be observed that the said ter- 'minals will be insulated with respect to the ment is preferably formed from a length of suitable helically bent wire having its ends engaged beneath the heads 21 of the said terminals and arranged to define a substantially U-shaped loop depending from the said terminals toward the cup 11 of the cock. As particularly brought out in Fig. 2, the bight of the loop formed by the heating element preferably terminates slightly above the upper edge of the cup so that the said element cannot accidentally become bent or deflected toward the sides of the bowl to contact with the cup. Fitted at its upper extremity over the'terminal 20 is a resilient switch member 26 held upon the said terminal by the binding nut 24 to depend there from along the side of the bowl and, at its free end, confronting the cup 10 of the cock. As also particularly shown in Fig. 2, the free end of this switch member is spaced from the cock body so that the said switch member is normally open.

In order that the mounting and operation of my improved cock may be accurately understood I have shown the device in connection. with a conventional type of motor vehicle engine 27 havingan intake. manifold 28. In use the stem 12 of the'body of the device is threaded through the intake manifold so that the cock is supported in a vertical position upon the said manifold. A wire 29 is then led from the storage battery of the vehicle or other suitable source of electrical energy thereonwhen the device may be operated for priming the engine. To accomplish this result, the valve cap of the bowl is removed by simply withdrawing the section 15 of the cap from within the upper end of the bowl when the bowl is filled with a charge of gasolene to immerse the coil of the heating element 25. The valve cap is then replaced and closed, it, of course, being understood that the valve 13 of the cock is normally closed. The switch member is then manually pressed at its free extremity to engage the body 10 of the cock for closing a circuit through the heating element when the said element will be immediately heated for heating the charge of gasolene within the bowl. This accomplished, the valve 13 is then opened to admit the heated charge of gasolene into the intake manifold 28. As

will be clear, such heated gasolene will readily volatilize within the said manifold to be drawn into the engine upon the cranking there of so that ignition will readily occur to effect the starting of the engine. 1 therefore, provide a device making it readily possible to s'tart'the motor of a vehicle under pract cally all weather conditions. By regulating the valve 16 of the cap, flow of air I the outlet from the bowl, a heating element carried by the bowl for heating thecontents of the bowl when filled and meansfor controlling admission of air into the bowl.

2. A device of the character described including a body, a bowl carried thereby, a .valve mounted upon-the body and controlling the outlet from the bowl,- a heating elementarranged within the bowl, and a flexible switch mounted upon the bowl and manually depressible for closing a circuit throughv said element.

3. A device of the character described including a body,a bowl carried thereby, a valve mounted upon the body and controlling the outlet from the bowl, a heating element mounted within the bowl, and a switch member mounted upon the bowl and normally spaced from the body, said switch member being manually operable to engage with the body for closing a circuit through the heating element.

4. A device of the character described including a body provided with a. cup, a bowl fitting around the cup and frietionally supported thereon, a closune cap for the bowl, a valve mounted upon the body and controlling the outlet from the bowl through the said cup, and means carried by the bowl for heating the contents of the bowl when filled.

5. A device of the character described including a body, a bowl carried thereby, a valve mounted upon the body and controlling the outlet from the bowl, terminals carried by the bowl, a heating element electrically connected with and supported by said terminals within the bowl, and manually operable means carried by the bowl for closing a circuit through the said heating element.

6. A device of the character described including a body, a bowl carried thereby, a valve mounted upon the body and controlling the outlet from the bowl, terminals carried by the bowl, a heating element electrically connected with said terminals and disposed within the bowl, and a switch member mounted upon one of said terminals and movable to engage the body for grounding a circuit through the said heating element.

7. A device ofthe character described including a body, a bowl carried thereby, a valve mounted upon the body and controlling the outlet from the bowl, a heating element mounted within the bowl for heating the contents of the bowl when filled, and a valve cap for the bowl, the said cap including an apertured disk removably engaged within the upper end of the bowl and fixed with respect thereto, and a second diskrotatably connected with the first disk and provided with an aperture adapted to register with the aperture of the first disk, the said sec ond mentioned disk being movable to control a flow of air through the bowl.

8. A device of the character described in cluding a metallic body, a bowl of insulating material mounted upon. the body, a valve controlling the outlet from the body, a heating element supported Within the bowl and insulated thereby with respect to the body,

and means for closing a circuit through the said element.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine cylinder priming cock having a cup and a valve controlling the outlet from the cup, of a bowl fitted over the cup and closed at its lower end thereby whereby said valve will also control the outlet from the bowl, a heating element supported within the bowl, and means for closing a circuit through said element.

In testimony whereof I' afiix my signature.

GEORGE T. McMILLAN. [1 s.] 

